(Washington, DC) - Today, the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) celebrated the ribbon cutting of Flavorture, the first Black-owned restaurant located in Woodley Park. Designed by Chefs Lew McAlister and Pinkey Reddick, Flavorture serves up top-notch cuisine with a bold taste. Flavorture's new location at 2609 24th St NW was supported by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development’s Nourish DC grant in the amount of $50,000 and Woodley Park Main Street Main Street's Facade grant, funded by DSLBD. 

 

"The small business sector is imperative to the success of DC's economy. It is the foundation of the entrepreneurial spirit on which the city was built," said Kristi Whitfield, Director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). "More than ever, we must meet business owners where they are and continue providing resources and tools to help them succeed."

 

The Flavorture owners grew their respective businesses to include catering social events, and corporate functions, from their strong backgrounds by obtaining local government contacts and being experts in their crafts. 

 

"Flavorture is the dream of two passionate people who came together to redefine what local dining could be like in DC," said Pinkey Reddick, co-owner of Flavorture. 

 

A letter from Mayor Bowser, read and presented by Director Kristi Whitfield of DSLBD during the ribbon cutting, congratulated the Flavorture owners and highlighted the Mayor’s ongoing commitment to the city's small business community.

 

We take pride in meeting the needs of our community, said Chef Lew McAlister, co-owner of Flavorture. "We are here because of consistency, and It really comes down to making an effort and repeating the same thing every day."

 

To help Celebrate the opening of Flavorture, Director Kristi Whitfield announced the opening of the 2023 Robust Retail Grant. Now in its 5th year, DSLBD intends to award up to $5,000 per business to approximately 100 businesses from the $500,000 in available funding for the Fiscal Year 2023. 

 

Now in its 5th year, DSLBD intends to award up to $5,000 per business to approximately 100 businesses from the $500,000 in available funding. This grant will be a reimbursement grant awarded via lottery to DC retail businesses that have met all eligibility requirements by the final deadline. Applications will be open until April 10, 2023, at 2 pm.

 

Since the Robust Retail Grant Program launch in 2019, DSLBD has awarded close to $4 million to nearly 400 different retail establishments in Washington, DC, including the distribution of Citywide and Main Street Grant funds. 

 

DSLBD will allow grant funds for the reimbursement of an eligible business’s expenses to cover employee wages and salaries, insurance, rent, utilities, inventory, and cleaning supplies, among others. 

 

For more information, please visit https://dslbd.dc.gov/robustretailgrant.